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Reproductive Health Matters
An international journal on sexual and reproductive health and rights
Volume 15, 2007 - Issue 29: Male circumcision for HIV prevention / Taking on the opposition
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Original Articles

Are Monthly Menstrual Periods Optional?: A European Perspective

Pages 183-185 | Published online: 17 May 2007
 

Abstract

Throughout human history, women have experienced menstruation, whether as a positive or a negative experience. The timing of periods was impossible to predict or to change. For the first time in human history, hormonal contraception has changed women's options, and the use of oestrogen–progestogen contraception can control whether and when a woman has a period. This article argues, on the basis of recent studies in the Netherlands, Germany, France and Italy, that a growing number of Western European women want no periods or would like to have a longer interval between periods. And why not!

Résumé

De tout temps, les femmes ont connu la menstruation, comme expérience positive ou négative. La date des règles était impossible à prévoir ou à modifier. Pour la première fois dans l’histoire de l’humanité, la contraception hormonale a changé la donne et une femme peut déterminer si elle aura ses règles et à quel moment, grâce à la contraception à oestrogènes et progestatifs. Se fondant sur de récentes études en Allemagne, en France, en Italie et aux Pays-Bas, cet article avance qu’un nombre croissant d’Européennes ne veulent plus de règles ou aimeraient un intervalle plus long entre deux cycles.

Resumen

A lo largo de la historia de la humanidad, las mujeres han vivido con la menstruación, ya sea ésta una experiencia positiva o negativa. El momento en que llegaba la regla era imposible de prever o cambiar. Por primera vez en la historia, la anticoncepción hormonal ha cambiado las opciones de las mujeres, y el uso de anticoncepción con estrógeno-progestágeno puede controlar si la mujer menstrúa y cuándo. A raíz de estudios recientes realizados en los Países Bajos, Alemania, Francia e Italia, en este artículo se sostiene que un creciente número de mujeres de Europa Occidental no desean tener el período menstrual o les gustaría alargar el intervalo entre períodos.

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